Ukrainian Eyes on Underseen
There is no substitute for face-to-face networking. That is why the Ukrainian impact scene united in style to talk funding, innovation and connection, with a private Ukrainian screening of Underseen as a powerful way to end a day rich in inspiration.
November 12th marked a double-bill event in Kyiv, with SILab Ukraine, our partners in the EU-funded Collaborate For Impact-program, hosting the second edition of their Kyiv Impact Entrepreneurs Meetup. It is an event that brings together a variety of impact people, including social entrepreneurs, fund managers, experts, and investors. At its core, the Meetup serves to share experiences, find partners, and discuss best practices in social entrepreneurship – in short, to accelerate the work that goes on behind the scenes, and often in difficult circumstances.
The program for this edition included a variety of panel discussions – one focused on finding investors and donors, with another zooming in on the role of innovation and technology in the development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ukraine. In the afternoon, partners from the Baltics and different Eastern European countries shared their best practices in scaling and developing social enterprises. Those familiar with our market building work in the region will recognise the names of Impact Hub Yerevan and CSRDG, our project partners in Armenia and Georgia, as two of the participants in this last session.
The event came as a timely reminder of the unique potential that social enterprises possess in reacting to extremely challenging circumstances, without leaving people behind. “In truth, any enterprise in Ukraine is now co-responsible for the future of the country. Social enterprises are emerging as leaders of change, and offer innovative solutions to vulnerable communities, but also to veterans and their families. It’s important to demonstrate how social entrepreneurship can be a driving force for positive change in our country”, said Anna Gulevska-Chernyish, Chair of the Board at SILab Ukraine.
She was complemented in this opinion by Alena Kalibaba, the CEO of the Ukrainian Social Venture Fund, an impact fund that was set up by SILab in collaboration with Impact Europe. “In our experience, social enterprises often operate in the grey area between classic for-profit business and public institutions. Our mission must be to help them come out of the shadows and to help the continue growing.”
The example of Underseen
A fine example of the potential impact that social enterprises can have in Ukraine, came with the grand finale of the event: a private domestic screening of Underseen. It should be emphasized that Underseen is a festival-format documentary, so the current pre-screening was behind closed doors.
Our impact documentary about the Ukrainian Museum in the Dark, ran largely for and by the visually impaired, paints a touching story of social impact, showing how a social enterprise can help integrate vulnerable communities back into society while also raising awareness and providing job opportunities.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity and the crowd present, the film was complemented by a panel discussion featuring perspectives from different stakeholders of the film: Alina Marnenko, the founder of the Museum, as well as Alena Kalibaba of the USVF, media expert Anastasia Hudyma and Vitalyi Veres, a veteran who was blinded during the war and is now actively trying to change preconceptions about blindness. He, too, shares his experiences in of the most striking passages of Underseen.
The main gist of the conversation centered around the importance of inclusivity in all aspects of the enterprise. "We could have simply explained that visually impaired people deserve respect and are like everyone else,” says Alina Marnenko. “But we chose a different, more challenging path—creating experiences that allow people to live them firsthand." Crucial in this respect is the role reversal taking place in the museum. "We often see people with disabilities as dependent on others. But during our tours, visitors and guides switch roles—visitors become the ones needing support."
Reclaiming agency and positivity is confirmed as extremly important by Vitaliy Veres. He is now the co-founder of the inclusive foundation Light Within You, which aims to break stereotypes about blindness as limiting. His approach is to lead by example. "On October 16, for instance, I returned from the Strong Spirits Games in Madrid, where I won two silver and two gold medals. It is an example that shows how blind people are not limited; in some ways, we can even excel."
It's one of the elements of Underseen that really hits home for the panelists. “The film shows their personal stories without portraying them as objects in the third person, letting viewers form their own conclusions”, according to Marnenko. Which is the best way to communicate about vulnerable groups, says Anastasia Hudyma. “To talk about their personal achievements, dreams, and professional goals while avoiding stereotypes”.
The panel ends with a call to action – for more funding, more support, and more sustainable financing models for social enterprises like the Museum in the Dark. Since its opening, the museum has expanded its activities, especially after the full-scale invasion, as many lost their sight due to combat, making rehabilitation urgent. A charitable organization was also formed to support injured servicemen, train rehabilitation specialists, and employ the visually impaired. However, none of that would have been possible without the financial and non-financial support of organisations like SILab Ukraine and its Ukraine Social Venture Fund.
"Initially, I didn’t think about financial motives”, says Alina Marnenko. “I loved the idea and thought it was a worthwhile project for Ukraine. But social businesses must earn to scale their impact." It’s a message echoed by Alena Kalibaba. "Impact investing requires scalability and sustainability—not dependency on grants or donations. As more and more social enterprises show their adaptibility, scalability and ability to communicate their mission, it will become more and more important to match this with adequate funding."
